Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Moero Chronicle Hyper
Developer: Compile Heart
Publisher: Idea Factory
Genre: DRPG
Price: $19.99
Also Available On: Steam
No doubt, Moero Chronicle‘s absence of any pretensions was what made it inaccessible to PlayStation Vita owners outside Asia upon its release half a decade ago. From the outset, it clearly had as its objective the presentation of fan service at every turn. Even its storyline didn’t skip a beat in underscoring its purpose: Io, its lead character described to have “a tender heart,” is compelled to save the world by going up against hordes of monster girls brainwashed out of a hitherto-peaceful co-existence with humans by an unknown entity. There’s just one problem, though; he’s afraid of them because, well, he thinks of them all the time in ways he shouldn’t and is thus wary of being labeled a pervert.
That Moero Chronicle has found its way to the Nintendo Switch — in “Hyper” form, no less — all the same speaks volumes on the slickness of its gameplay, which both underscores and overcomes its commitment to push the boundaries of objectification. Setting aside the statement it effectively makes on the contrast in cultural sensibilities of the East and the West when it comes to sex (and, in the opposite manner, violence), it comes off as an engrossing dungeon crawler with a creative interface and battle system. As Io traverses through Monstopia, he gets to recruit monster girls with the help of his unaffected friend Lilia and seal mascot Otton en route to overcoming the greater evil behind the disruption of the status quo.
Moero Chronicle Hyper unfolds with unabashed raunchiness that’s played for humor. Enemies have sexualized designs and need to be “worn out” prior to being turned into allies — which is to say relieved of their outer garments in battle by Io’s party of five already-coopted monster girls. Recruitment is then completed via a mini-game in which the targets are purified through the identification of points of weakness in their bodies. Unfortunately, its success in generating laughs is sometimes lost in translation. In its localization to English, the information its dialogues was able to convey well in Japanese occasionally becomes muddled.
Still and all, gamers who find themselves investing the 40-something hours to see Moero Chronicle Hyper through to the end will not be disappointed. It certainly strives to be different, and, assuming its proposition to be acceptable from the get-go, ultimately manages to provide good value at $19.99.
THE GOOD
- Gameplay overcomes commitment to push boundaries of objectification
- Engrossing dungeon crawler
- Creative interface and battle system
THE BAD
- Localization efforts occasionally fail to retain the game’s humorous bent
- Enjoyment premised on gamer appreciation of value of fan service
- Principal protagonist can be an acquired taste
RATING: 7/10
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